Snowtown killers ate bits of last victim

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He was their final victim, but this time killing wasn't enough
for Snowtown serial murderers John Bunting and Robert Wagner.

They hacked at David Johnson's body to make sure it would fit in
the barrel and then hacked a little bit more - taking a sliver of
flesh from the right thigh.

There was no remorse. No second thoughts. They heated a frying
pan, cooked the flesh, and ate it.

Details of the cannibalism of David Johnson have been publicly
released for the first time in South Australia, after the SA
Supreme Court ruled they were no longer prejudicial given the long
running bodies-in-barrels case has almost drawn to a close.

The gruesome details were revealed by James Vlassakis during a
confidential police interview before he was arrested for his role
in the killings.

It was recounted during submissions to determine Vlassakis'
sentence, with his lawyer Rosemary Davey seeking to demonstrate her
client had cooperated with police at all times.

"I mentioned that there was the desecration of David Johnson's
body after his death," Ms Davey said in her 2002 submission which
was suppressed until Monday.

"That was instigated by Robert Wagner, as described by my
client, and a piece of David Johnson's flesh was taken.

"My client (was) going to have a shower (and) he comes out to
find Robert Wagner cooking the flesh of David Johnson in a fry-pan
in the kitchen.

"He is offered some, told effectively: Try some.

"My client volunteered this whole horrible, revolting scenario
in his first record of interview.

"It was this description of what happened to David Johnson and
the desecration of his body when my client was vomiting during the
interview.

"The only source of information as to my client's participation
in the act of cannibalism was from my client himself.

"It may have been suspected that it could never have been proven
that this act of cannibalism took place without the word of my
client.

"Indeed, when one looks at the post-mortem material in relation
to David Johnson ... there appears to be no suggestion ... which
alerted the police, if you like, to any act of cannibalism or any
missing parts of David Johnson.

"The evidence about cannibalism came solely from my client."

Marcus Johnson, who has long suffered the indignity of knowing
his son was killed and eaten by people he once regarded as friends,
said he was relieved to know the truth was finally out in the
open.

Mr Johnson is also the stepfather of Vlassakis and barrels
victim Troy Youde.

"I've swung the other way (to now oppose suppression orders)
after (almost) seven years of watching this unfold (since the
bodies were discovered)," Mr Johnson said.

"It's harder to live (silently) in depression.

"It's a very emotional day - it's bloody terrible.

"I didn't think I would be so worked up about it (becoming
public) - maybe I've been in a bit of denial."

There have been more than 230 suppression orders in the
bodies-in-barrels case, triggered by the May 1999 discovery of
bodies rotting in barrels in the vault of a disused bank at
Snowtown, north of Adelaide.

Vlassakis was sentenced to 26 years imprisonment after agreeing
to testify against Bunting and Wagner, who were last year jailed
without parole.

Bunting was found guilty of 11 murders, Wagner of 10 and
Vlassakis of four murders following the Snowtown killings.